Here are some tips for your Labor Day menu that will not cause you to labor too much.

Skip the burgers and just grill hotdogs or sausages, toss some salad, and you’re good-to-go.

Crispy fried chicken is another hit for everyone. Or if you prefer to use your outdoor grill, you can grill the chicken too by marinating it in buttermilk first to prevent it from drying out.

For health-conscious guests, you can opt to grill salmon instead.

Want a sure crowd-pleaser? Use your outdoor grill to make Margherita pizzas. Or if your grill is already crowded, use quesadillas instead. Top with basil, tomato, and mozzarella and you’ll have instant mini-Margherita pizzas!

If all else fails, just head to the nearest supermarket for cold cuts to make sandwiches. While you’re at it, buy some chips too and serve corn salsa with it.

For your dinnerware, we recommend combining Lenox Aristocrat with Lenox Buchanan. This luxurious combination will impress your guests even with your labor-less spread and is also a splendid way of saying sayonara to summer.

Lenox Aristocrat 5-Piece Place Setting

Lenox Buchanan 5-Piece Place Setting

So relax, because contrary to this holiday’s name, today is really a day of leisure – a respite from all the work that you have been doing.

Today we start a new series on pairing ideas for your Lenox collections.

Lenox, as you know, is a household name in fine china. Lenox Corporation is an American company which has been in the business since 1889 and is known for its expert artistry in fine tabletop and giftware (china, crystal, and metal gifts). Their settings are used in no less than the White House while some of their works are also on display in the Smithsonian Institution as well as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Mixing patterns is actually a good way to make your table setting even more elegant and interesting, a sure way to get the conversation going! You’ll be surprised at the results if you are bold enough to do so.

To start you off, here’s a suggested pairing from the Lenox collection.

Lenox April which has a platinum rim, cream background, and pastel flowers…

Lenox April 5-Piece Place Setting

…is a good match for Lenox Montclair which also has a platinum rim and cream background.

Fitz and Floyd was founded by Pat Fitzpatrick and Bob Floyd in Dallas in 1960. It started out as an import company. From importing ceramic products, they decided to make their own and now, more than 50 years later, the company is known for its tableware, homeware, as well as collectibles and other seasonal items.

Just like this collection, the Fitz and Floyd Cloisonné’ Peony, which the company produced for more than a decade. It has a stunning design featuring a white center with a thick black band, pink and purple peonies, and gold trimmings.

Fitz and Floyd Cloisonné Peony – Black 5-Piece Place Setting

If you thought that was stunning, you should see these other pieces from the collection:

Fitz and Floyd Cloisonné Peony – Black Cookie Plate

Fitz and Floyd Cloisonné Peony – Black Fluted Bowl

Fitz and Floyd Cloisonné Peony – Black Accent Salad Plate

Cloisonné is actually an ancient technique for decorating that has been modernized and applied to this collection. It is a technique that has been perfected in China. No wonder this pattern has an Oriental vibe to it.

Christineholm Romanov is a pattern named after a Russian dynasty that reigned from 1613 to 1917. However, this pattern was produced only in 1993. Its contemporary design features a thick cobalt band with 24-karat gold trimmings. Its stunning look makes it ideal for use during formal dinners.

If you want a regal table setting, this is the collection for you.

Christineholm Romanov 5-Piece Place Setting

Noteworthy to highlight is its flat cup and saucer set which is truly fit for royalty! A luxurious way to enjoy coffee or tea!

Christian Dior…the name itself is synonymous to fashion; but did you know that aside from clothing & accessories, fragrance, makeup & skincare, jewelry & timepieces, the brand had a dinnerware line too?

They don’t produce it anymore which makes Christian Dior china collections all the more precious. Below are two collections you might want to get hold of. Intricate designs, functional forms, and bold colors with generous 24 karat gold applications is common to both of them. Truly characteristic of what the Christian Dior brand is all about: eye-catching designs that are ahead of its time.

True to its name, Festivite, which is French for celebration is a pattern that is ideal for Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings. Its scalloped design with gold rim, green stripes and garland, and red accents make it so.

This pattern was produced for a decade by Ceralene / Raynaud, the only one left of the eleven original porcelain makers in Limoges, France.

By upholding its time-honored know how from its roots in 1849, Raynaud, at present, has established its global presence and reinforced its image with its intrinsic quality and timeless creations such as the Ceralene Festivite.

Invite your dad to a home-cooked Father’s Day meal instead. By doing this, you are sure to speak to his heart, and not just to his stomach.

How about a seafood-themed dinner to depart from the usual meat fare? Here are some more suggested dishes.

Roasted Buffalo Shrimp

This delicious and novel twist on Buffalo wings is a terrific way to start the “catching up” conversation with your dad. Serve the shrimp and dip with cucumber spears, celery stalks, and wedges of crunchy fennel.

Lobster Rolls

Dress sweet, tender chunks of lobster meat with lemon juice, mayonnaise, and a sprinkling of chives and tarragon to make the irresistible filling for this classic of New England summer dining. Toast the buttered buns on a skillet just before filling them.

Beer-Battered Fish

This is a dish that your dad will surely love! Served with an ice-cold beer of Dad’s choice and crisp fries, it will make for a satisfying Father’s Day dinner by itself!

For your table setting, how about a sea-themed dinnerware to go with it? Try the Wedgwood Runnymede – Blue. It has a dark blue band with a clamshell design then trimmed in gold.

Wedgwood Runnymede-Blue 5-Piece Place Setting

Wedgwood Runnymede is also available in Turquoise. This collection is by Wedgwood of England – perfect for your dinner which is not only seafood-themed but English-inspired as well!

One more week before it’s time to pay tribute to that number one man in your life – your father!

Perhaps you have been busy and occupied with the demands of your adult life that you hardly have had the time to spend with this person who is partly responsible for bringing you into this world. If distance will allow it, why not invite him (and your mom, too!) over for dinner?

Here are some suggested dishes that he will surely love.

Maximize the “barbecue” weather by serving Grilled Salmon Skewers with Garlic and Dijon for your main course. Lay the skewers on a Wedgwood India 15″ Oval Serving Platter for an attractive food presentation.

Wedgwood India 15″ Oval Serving Platter

And since you probably still have a hangover from Memorial Day Weekend, and Flag Day is just around the corner, why not prepare a healthy Fruit Flag for dessert? It’s light and easy to make yet so festive. Just form a flag using fruits which are so abundant this summer. Think plump blueberries, blushing cherries, ripe raspberries, and juicy strawberries. For the white lining, use white chocolate-covered pretzels and voila! Patriotism never tasted this good.

For your dinnerware, go for Wedgwood India. Its understated design is the perfect complement to your sumptuous Father’s Day Feast!